Strait and Narrow Is Not Straight, But It's Thrilling

1 Nephi 8:20

And I also beheld a strait and narrow path, which came along by the rod of iron, even to the tree by which I stood; and it also led by the head of the fountain, unto a large and spacious field, as if it had been a world.

What President Nelson has called the "covenant path" is always designated by the scriptures as the "strait and narrow path." Strait is a synonym for narrow, but the prophets in the scriptures are not being redundant. Strait also means strict. So the path is strict and narrow. No deviations are allowed. We are either on the path, or we are not. It leaves no room for lateral movement. Faith in Christ, repentance, and baptism are the only ways to enter the path. Making and keeping covenants and keeping the commandments of the gospel are the only ways to stay on the path. A step to either side is a step off the path and into trouble.

On the other hand, while the path is strait and narrow, it is endless in its length. It provides no restrictions to my making forward progress. I can travel as far and as fast along the path as I choose. The path is strait, but it is not straight. It includes turns and twists that I must learn to negotiate. Although I may encounter bumps and obstacles as I press forward, they are not speed bumps to slow me down but are tests that ultimately accelerate me toward my goal.

The strait and narrow path is like the rails of a rollercoaster. The ride is full of twists and turns, peaks and valleys. Sometimes we need a pulley to lift us to a peak, and other times our forward momentum carries us over rise after rise. As long as we stay in the car that is firmly attached to the track, with our seatbelts buckled, though we may be tossed and turned and even find ourselves upside down for a moment, we are safe. The ride may scare us half to death, but we are exhilarated when we finally pull into the station. What frightened us in the moment, when we couldn't see what was coming next, we think of as fun when it is all over.


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